4 Pleasant Valley students hailed as heroes

Will Anderson normally sleeps on the bus to the Monroe Career and Technical Institute, where he is a student in the law enforcement program.

CHRIS REBER

Will Anderson normally sleeps on the bus to the Monroe Career and Technical Institute, where he is a student in the law enforcement program.

But on Nov. 18, the Pleasant Valley senior was wide awake when one of his classmates — and a lifelong friend — started having a seizure while the crowded bus was waiting for a red light about five minutes from school.

"I just reacted," he said. "When it was over that little bit of panic hit, it always does."

Today, the student is back in school, and Anderson, along with classmates Amber Moeck, Jordan Wright and Will Hubbard, are being praised for their quick response and the aid they provided the student.

The students recalled how they were spurred into action.

Moeck, a senior in the law enforcement program, was the first to react, moving quickly through the crowded bus to reach the student in distress. She and Anderson held him to prevent him from hurting himself.

"As soon as I heard it, I jumped up. I was jumping over seats to get there," she said.

They alerted the bus driver, who contacted the school to call for EMS, and slowed down the bus to prevent the student from hitting his head. They also made sure the student didn't choke on his own blood after he bit down on his cheek.

Wright, a junior in the medical program, timed the seizure and determined it was a grand mal seizure, information useful to EMS.

When the bus arrived at MCTI, administrators and a state trooper took over.

Wright said the seizure lasted about six minutes, and the student was in what's known as a catatonic state for about two minutes. Anderson said it felt a lot longer.

"It felt like forever," he said. "I wasn't too focused on how long it had taken."

When the student returned to school, Anderson said he was a bit embarrassed, but ultimately grateful for his classmates.

"He told me 'Thank you for helping out,'" Anderson said.

The students all said they used their training from MCTI. Moeck said classes like first aid and CPR were rigorous, but essential to handling the situation.

"It feels good having the training and to help somebody," she said.

Principal John Gress said he was impressed with the maturity shown by the students in using their training and handling the situation.